PeopleSoft to SharePoint Integration and SharePoint to PeopleSoft Integration and Interfaces

To integrate PeopleSoft Enterprise and SharePoint bidirectionally requires a true integration platform that serves the need for integration at the data and process layers. Unfortunately, some solutions use SharePoint Web Parts displaying SharePoint information within PeopleSoft, but this is not true integration, it is only a mashup, no different than positioning SharePoint and PeopleSoft windows side-by-side on a large monitor. True integration to PeopleSoft can be achieved by employing the Magic xpi Integration Platform for SharePoint and the PeopleSoft Integration Broker provided by Oracle.

The Magic xpi Integration Platform offers Oracle Validated Integration for JD Edwards World and also has automated connections to JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Oracle PeopleSoft, Microsoft SharePoint and numerous other applications that completely avoid the need for line-by-line programming and the tedious work that goes along with maintaining integration code. Magic xpi introduces a collaborative way of working for PeopleSoft Integration.

Because the PeopleSoft Integration Broker permits the Magic xpi Integration Platform to achieve direct integration to all PeopleSoft modules, the variety of integration that is simplified goes far beyond the self-service modules mentioned. It also includes other HRMS functions, General Ledger (G/L), Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), Supply Chain Management (SCM), etc. The Magix xpi Integration Component works with any SharePoint Server including SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2007.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software systems were initially proposed as a single comprehensive suite of applications to provide all of the needed business processes for an organization. While different ERP systems have particular strengths and weaknesses, with financials being a common strength, most businesses that implement ERP find it necessary to supplement these systems with other software solutions such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), supply chain, logistics, eCommerce, and other systems. Oracle’s ERP products include Peoplesoft Enterprise, JD Edwards World, JD Edwards EnterpiseOne, eBusiness Suite and the emerging Oracle Fusion Applications.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software systems were later introduced to provide marketing, sales and service teams with enhanced capabilities for managing customer interactions as well as the promise of a “360-degree view” of customer information. Oracle offers CRM as a module within all of its ERP systems except for JD Edwards World. Nevertheless, many customers choose to use 3rd party CRM solutions instead. Some of these CRM functions may even span SharePoint and PeopleSoft presenting another needed area for integration.

Because of the diversity and lack of integration within the Oracle family of application products, Oracle is in the process of introducing Oracle Fusion Applications as “100 percent open standards-based business applications.” A CRM module is also planned within this product suite. Integration will be standards-based.

Until greater adoption of Oracle Fusion Financials occurs within the Oracle customer community, it is difficult to predict how popular Oracle Fusion CRM will become. For now, virtually all customers, including PeopleSoft users, plan to remain with their original software.

Nevertheless, there are serious integration challenges for PeoleSoft users. PeopleSoft has many modules and is very extensive but has gaps like all systems, and integration between PSFT modules is not automatic, there is quite a bit of work required in PeopleSoft Foundation and especially with the PeopleSoft Integration Broker to integrate PeopleSoft CRM and oh, lets say HR.

Depending on your PeopleTools version, since 8.0 at least, one of these approaches or all of them will be available to you:

Utilizing the Magic xpi Integration Platform with the PeopleSoft Integration Broker can significantly simplify the development of interfaces between PeopleSoft applications and SharePoint.

The first step in the process is to configure the PeopleSoft Integration Broker by creating a node, specifying a routing and then generating a WSDL. From there, iBOLT takes over and significantly reduces the complexity of PeopleSoft integration because the iBOLT Web services consumer wizard can access external Web services providers on the Internet or an Intranet. (and also publish them by the way).

With Magic xpi, rather than dealing with SharePoint’s BCS, Lists or worse – Web Parts, you can work at a business analyst level to integrate these two applications without having to do any API programming.

True PeopleSoft SharePoint Integration is best achieved with a fully SOA-compliant application integration platform. This prepares you to “outperform the future” when versions, APIs, data dictionaries and everything else changes.

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